Special Lot From: Hunan Province

Organic Imperial Yellow

Sale price$17.854.9
Just $0.44/serving
Weight: 2 oz Canister
certified organic and fair trade - logo marks

About Our Organic Imperial Yellow

Yellow teas are relatively rare in the West, which is a shame because they can be absolutely delicious. Their genius lies in a time-consuming process where green tea leaves are sealed in paper or cloth for several days — called sealed yellowing (闷黄). Cell walls grow more porous during that time, and the result is something that doesn't quite fit any other category: less grassy than a green, lighter than a black, mellow and sweet in a way that's hard to get any other way.

This tea brews crystal clear, sweet and mellow, with charming notes of apple — a bit like a Darjeeling, and just as truly fabulous.

It's a Hunan Special Lot and we don't always have it. When we do, people tend to buy more than one tin. Gordon called it "the finest tea I have enjoyed in the last 60 years." He bought the sampler, and told everyone not to miss it. We agree.

Brewing Guidelines for Organic Imperial Yellow

3:30 MIN

200 F

2.5 TSP - 2.5G PER 8 OZ CUP

Brewing Guidelines are for one 8 oz. cup.

The best way to brew your tea is the way you like - don't let anyone tell you different. Our guidelines are configured for making your tea a cup at a time - maybe with our stainless tea filter. If making by the pot, maintain temperature and time but try with slightly less tea than the math would suggest.

Serving calculation assumes re-steeping your leaves once. After all, these are teas so nice, you'll steep them twice.

For more brewing instructions, read our brewing guidelines.

Customer Reviews for Organic Imperial Yellow

TeaYellow teaFlavorTeasCupLittle red cupLightSweetnessImperial yellow specialLot tea
  • 5 stars: 44 (92%)
  • 4 stars: 4 (8%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
A
Andrea S.
very special tea

This is a lovely, lovely delicate tea. I waited until the weekend and brought out the a family tea cup to sit and enjoy this one.

J
Jim M.
Magical Tea

If I had a constant supply of this Imperial Yellow, Shou Pu’er and Effie’s cocoa or ginger biscuits I’d not want for anything else. Thanks Mike for the amazing teas. I’ve been hooked for a while.

H
Heather
Delicious

This is such a mellow tea. I have a hard time describing how tea tastes but I'll try... Tastes kinda like the white peony. Like fall in the north east smells- like sweet, dried leaves as they crunch under your feet. Super tasty, you should try some. Very mellow and unique!

S
Sandy P.
Nice delicious intro to yellow tea

This is my first purchase from Little Red Cup, and I am very pleased! This tea is very smooth and delicate with just a hint of sweetness. Kind of reminiscent of black tea more than green. My photo shows a second brewing which I found just as delicious. I don't drink black tea much in the summer (too intense), so this one will be good all year around. Highly recommended!

S
Stephanie F.
Superb!

I think this is the best tea I have ever had! I taste NO grassiness. My sister and brother in loves this. I will be purchasing a big bag.

D
Daphne U.
Absolutely Divine

I'm new to chinese tea, however this one totally blew my socks off when I tasted it. The leaves swell and unfold beautifully when brewed, and the flavor is delicate and slightly sweet. (I need to taste it again and write down specific notes and details). If I could describe it more abstractly, I would call it to be something of an herbal champagne. This is due to the sweetness and elegant flavor profile, and also the impression of the liquor itself. Under a beam of light, the brew *literally* glitters. This is due to the high levels of trichomes (plant peach fuzz, growing on the youngest, freshest leaves on the plant, associated with spring and first flush harvests) on the leaves. Again, I am a total beginner, but for these reasons, I would consider this to be a truly fine tea. (and a bang for your buck!) 10/10 would recommend

T
Thomas Z.
mellow yellow

Found myself humming "They call me mellow yellow..." while sipping this unique tea. My prefered method of drinking this tea is gongfu style using a gaiwan. Delivers multiple pleasant steepings.

-
--Dorsey
Spring Landscape

An exquisite uncommon yellow tea. Delicate but slightly chewy. Reminiscent of a misty spring landscape.

J
Jillian M.
Boy does this tea go down easy...

The first sip made me say "wow" out loud. This yellow tea has such a pleasant flavor and re-steeps very nicely - I've been sipping and sipping all morning and gotten an I've-lost-count amount of lovely cups out of 2 tsp. Thank you little red cup!!

C
Carol

Excellent product & company

K
Kellie

Light and refreshing!! Doesn't need a thing added. Love it hot or iced!

C
Cheryl W.
Wonderful Yellow Tea!

If you like yellow tea, this is a good one! I have tried a couple other brands, but this is my favorite. It’s lighter in caffeine than black tea, so a cup in the evening is a warm treat for me. It’s smooth, flavorful, and easy to drink.

K
Kel
Delicious

Got this as a sample and will be ordering more!! Light, refreshing and delicious! Also delicious iced! Didn't need to add a thing to it either!

M
Megan A.
Light and smooth

This was a really lovely tea, to me it was similar to a green but without any of the bitterness.

D
D.R.
Love this tea!

This is my first introduction to yellow teas. I ordered the sample of the Imperial yellow tea. I was blown away with the taste. It’s has some sweetness and it reminds me of a Darjeeling tea. I haven’t even finished my first cup and I’m looking forward to having another. Definitely buying more. Thank you for letting me try a sample

b
b.w.
Near the top of my teas.

Amazingly good. Very few teas around the world, have tasted better to me, in 40 years.

C
C.L.
What a wonderful tea!

Just like I said in the title, what a wonderful tea! Little Red Cup once again provides another spectacular offering. Deep, mellow, satisfying and unusual. I have heard of yellow teas, but never had the chance to try one until now. Bought a pound and am glad I did. A great tea for any time of day.

G
Gregory C.
Excellent

First time purchasing a Yellow Tea and most certainly won't be my last. Slowly becoming my favorite tea. Highly recommended.

C
Chelsea P.
Delicious!

This is a delicious tea!

T
Taylor S.
Love it

Incredible tea! Do yourself a favor and get your hands on it.

P
Pamela M.
Wonderful

This tea has a robust, but mellow flavor. Very delightful

G
Gordon S.
Imperial Yellow Special lot tea is the finest tea I have enjoyed in the last 60 years.

Dear Reader,
I am recalibrating my sense of teas with the Little Red Cup teas.
Imperial Yellow Special lot tea is the finest tea I have enjoyed in the last 60 years.
I purchased all of the sampler packs...
Do not miss Imperial Yellow Special lot tea.
Thank you very much,
little Red Tea Cup Company for greatly improving my life.
Best wishes to all.
Gordon Smith

M
Margaret J.
Yellow Tea

This is my first try of the Yellow Tea. It has a gentle taste and is very enjoyable.

B
Bob C.
Oh So Special!

Incredibly delicate, slightly sweet, and balanced. A tea to be savored.

M
MADELINE S.
Love this tea

This tea has the best flavor. Very delicious. I’ve never had yellow tea before. I look forward to drinking it every day. It came in the nicest container and very quick. I definitely will be buying other tea from them.

D
Dennis T.
Something different ...

I've had green and black teas, but never yellow, until now. This was well worth the effort (OK, no effort, just lift the cup), as the tea was delicious. I plan to buy more when this one is gone (read: soon). Highly recommend.

L
Linda C.
Bright and Delicious

I drink this absolute gem of a tea any time of day. It is particularly refreshing iced on these hot summer days. PS: I love the handwritten notes sent with my order.

B
Brett W.
Imperial Yellow Special Lot

Great smooth flavorful tea - something really special.

B
Beth W.
5/5

Imperial Yellow Special Lot

C
Carrie M.
Great, great tea

More like a black than a green, but certainly less nutty/roasty than a full-on black. Has some of that raw puer essence to it in leaf color. Finished my first box and ordered a second.

C
Carl Z.
5/5

Imperial Yellow Special Lot

Why Our Tea Is Organic

Tea is among the most heavily treated crops in conventional agriculture. When you steep tea leaves in hot water, you’re making an extraction—and that extraction doesn’t discriminate between flavor compounds and pesticide residues. Every tea we sell meets certified organic standards. Our teas are certified organic by the USDA and MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association), a leading independent organic certifier. This means no synthetic pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, and annual third-party inspections to verify it. We source from worker-owned cooperatives in rural, mountainous regions of China, where traditional growing methods align naturally with organic standards. These aren’t industrial plantations; they’re small farms where people have been growing tea the same way for generations. Healthier soil produces better tea. Plants grown without synthetic chemical inputs develop more complex flavor profiles. You can taste the difference.